Holder for electric fuses, etc.



Aug. 28, 1934. R ROWE 1,971,623

HOLDER FOR ELECTRIC FUSES, ETC

Filed March 25, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 lNVENTOR RAYMOND N. F2 WE, 8% 7 Aug. 28, 1934. R W 1,971,623

HOLDER FOR ELECTRIC FUSES, ETC

Filed March 25, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 II E i 1 I r 1 I I I INVENTOR RAYMOND N. owE,

Patented Aug. 28, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HOLDER roa Emo'rmc FUSES. E'rc.

necticut Application March 25, 1933, Serial No. 662,648

3 Claims. (01; 200-134) My invention relates to electric circuit protecting devices and particularly to means for mounting or supporting what are commonly termed cartridge type fuses, relays and the like.

i The main object is to provide a simple and rugged construction for securely and effectively clamping the ferrules or contact ends of a cartridge type device.

Another object is to provide a construction which will clamp the ferrules or contact ends of a cartridge type fuse in such a manner that good contact is assured and so that they can not be accidentally disconnected. An analogous construction applicable especial- 16 ly to fuses of the knife blade type is shown in the Hammerly Patent 1,851,249. The present construction is intended to utilize the principles of the Hammerly invention but to adapt it especially to fuses which are not provided with terminal extensions of the knife blade type and in which the terminal ends are substantially cylindrical.

The construction embodies supporting blocks for the ends of the cartridge device and clamp 26 screws which directly or indirectly clamp the ferrule or contact ends of the device in place.

Each supporting block is provided with a groove which preferably substantially fits approximately one-half the circumference of the end of the device. One side of the block is extended in the form of a post and provided with one or more clamping screws.

In the preferred form a clamping bar is preferably provided which is adapted to be drawn into clamping position by one or more screws and automatically retracted by a suitable spring means when the screw or screws are released One of the objects of the present invention is to insure the automatic retraction of the clamping device when the screw operated clamping means is released.

Fig. 1 is a front viewof a construction embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a side view of the'same. Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view on the plane of the line 3-3 of Fig. 1. 1

Fig. 4 is a perspective view ofone of the supporting members with its clamping device;

Fig. 5 is an exploded perspective view of th same parts as shown in Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a front view showing a modified form of construction.

Fig. 7 is a transverse sectional view of the 5 same on the plane of the line 7--7 of Fig. 6.

loosened.

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of one of the holders shown in Figs. 6 and '7. I

Fig. -9 shows a fragmentary front view of a box showing the fuse holder installed.

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary sectional view of the same.

The drawings show a typical cylindrical or cartridge type fuse or relay 10 having cylindrical end caps or ferrules 11.

Each fuse holder'is preferably formed of a block 12 of solid metal made, for instance, by die casting and preferably provided with a semicylindrical groove or recess 13 to receive the end terminal of the fuse. 1

Each supporting block 12 is secured to a suitable base such as 14 in a suitable manner, as for instance by a screw or bolt 15. A strap member or blade 16 may extend from beneath each holder and provide means of attachment for a conductor terminal 17. These terminals may, of course, be 76 attached at the end or at the sides depending upon the convenience of installation.

The holder has an abutment shoulder 18 atone edge and a vertical post 19 at the other edge. A clamp plate 20 is mounted on the outer end of 0 this post and projects down into a position where it is adapted to grip the side of the fuse cap opposite the abutment shoulder 18. This plate is adapted to be drawn down or clamped by a screw or screws 21 which'are threaded'into the outer end of the post 19. Each screw may be spread or swedged at 22 within a recess or passage 23 so as to prevent the complete withdrawal of the screw from the post.

A spring 24 may conveniently be interposed 00 between the flange 25 of the clamp plate and a recess 26 in the outer end of the post so as to retract the clamping plate when the screws are It will be seen that the grooved recess 13. occu- 88 pics an arc. of approximately which is just sufficient to permit the introduction of the cylindrical end of the fuse. The gripping edge of the plate 20 is extended somewhat beyond 180 so that when the clamp plate is tightened it bites into the terminal cap of the fuse and holds it snugly in place with firm contact throughout something more than 180 of its circumference.

It will thus be seen that it is impossible for the fuse to be accidentally detached. It-is also 106 obvious that there is nothing about the device so effective. no

Fi 9 shows such holders installed in a cutout box where there would be insumcient room for proper installation of the usual spring Jaws, and where space is so limited that it would be impossible to utilize fuse clamping devices of former types. In this case the supporting blocks 12 are mounted in an insulating housing 27 and provided with extension blades 28 for attachment to other conducting elements. The post portion is shown arranged against the partition 29 in the housing. This is a compact and safe installation which it would be difllcult, if not impossible, to make with the usual type of construction.

In the construction shown in Figs. 6, 7 and 8 the holder 30 has the semi-cylindrical groove 81, the stationary abutment shoulder 32 and the post member 33 with a screw threaded member 34;. This member 34 has a headed extension 35 adapted to engage the fuse ferrule at a point opposite the abutment 32. It will be seen that in this case the supporting surface of the holder extends around approximately 180 and that the shoulder 35 engages the upper part of the fuse terminal so that something more than 180 of the end of the holder is embraced between the walls 35 and 32, thus eifectively clamping the end 11 of the fuse.

It should be understood that other modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

I claim:

1. A terminal device for a cartridge'type fuse including a substantially rigid block having a base adapted to be secured to a support, said block having a substantially semi-circular groove opening away from the base of the block to receive the cylindrical contact end of a fuse, one side of the block extending beyond the other side of the block in the form of a post, a clamping device carried by said post for engaging the end of the fuse at a point only slightly more than 180 from the opposite edge of the block so that the fuse may be readily removed when the clamping device is released and a screw adjustable into said post at substantially right angles to the base of the block for actuating said clamping device, said post furnishing a lateral support for said clamping device.

2. A terminal device for a cartridge type fuse including a substantially rigid block having a base adapted to be secured to a support, said block having a substantially semi-circular groove opening away from the base of the block to receive the cylindrical contact end of a fuse, one side of the block extending beyond the other side of the block in the form of a post, a clamping device carried by said post for engaging the end of the fuse at a point only slightly more than 180 from the opposite edge of the block so that the fuse may be readily removed when the clamping device is released and a screw adjustable into said post at substantially right angles to the base of the block for actuating said clamping device, said post furnishing a lateral support for said clamping device, said clamping device consisting of a conical member carriedby said screw.

3. A terminal device fora cartridge type fuse including a substantially rigid block having a base adapted to be secured to a support, said block having a substantially semi-circular groove opening away from the base of the block to receive the cylindrical contact end of a fuse, one side of the block extending beyond the other side of the block in the form of a post, a clamping device carried by said post for engaging the end of the fuse at a point only slightly more than 180 from the opposite edge of the block so that the fuse may be readily moved when the clamping device is released and a screw adjustable into said post at substantially right angles to the base of the block for actuating said clamping device, said post furnishing a lateral support for said clamping device, said clamping device consisting of a flanged plate through which the screw passes,

RAYMOND N. ROWE. 

